Interministerial Group on Housing, Communities and Local Government

Communique: 13 December 2023

The Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) for Housing, Communities and Local Government met on 13 December by video conference.

The attending Ministers were:

• From the Scottish Government: the Minister for Housing, Paul McLennan (Meeting Chair).
• From the Welsh Government: the Minister for Climate Change, Julie James MS
• From the UK Government: Jacob Young, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Levelling Up and Lee Rowley, Minister of State for Housing, Planning and Building Safety
• From the Northern Ireland Executive: Department for Communities, Mark O'Donnell - Deputy Secretary of Housing, Urban Regeneration and Local Government, Paul Price, Director of Social Housing Policy and David Polley, Director of Housing Supply Policy.

The Chair opened proceedings by welcoming attendees to the third meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Group.

The group welcomed the presentation by Professor Ken Gibb of CaCHE on research on the impacts of regulation on the Private Rented Sector, issues and challenges.
The group discussed the challenges each government faces around affordable homes and housing supply.

The group also discussed progress made on building safety, cladding remediation, Insurance mortgage and lending markets and RAAC.

They acknowledged the positive working relationship between officials across the areas of housing and building safety and agreed for this official level engagement to continue.

It was confirmed that the UK Government and officials from the Northern Ireland Executive will work together on preparations for the next meeting of the IMG, scheduled for March / April 2024.

Officials will work together to identify a suitable date and agenda items.